REGION, July 30th- The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Region Four office in Philadelphia found merit in the complaint filed by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 21, Azalea Drive in Drums, Luzerne County, against a local painting contractor and scheduled a hearing.

In the previous edition of the newspaper it was reported that IUPAT District Council 21 filed a Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge alleging an signatory contractor with the Union violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRAct).

According to the Unfair Labor Practice charge, which was discovered by the newspaper while reviewing representation petitions and labor complaints filed at the NLRB Region Four office, the IUPAT represents approximately four workers of the company.

The Union News is the only member of the local media, including newspapers, television or radio broadcasters, that reviews and publicizes the information.

The complaint was filed on May 23rd, 2012 against Accents Painting and Wallcovering, LLC Accents Contracting, Church Road in Mountain Top.

The ULP was filed against the painting contractor on behalf of the Union by John Gatto, identified as the Assistant Business Manager of IUPAT District Council 21. IUPAT represent painters and drywall construction workers within the building trade industry.

“On or about March 23rd, 2012 Accents Painting and Wallcovering refused to furish District Council 21 with requested information for collective bargaining.

Since September 2011 Accents Painting and Wallcovering has not made fund payments as per District Council 21’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Since approximately January 2012 the officers of Accents Painting and Wallcovering have been running Accents Contracting, a non signatory alter ego, within the same industry,” stated the labor complaint.

The NLRB has issued a complaint against the operators of the painting company, Jennifer and Ken Phillips. The agency has scheduled a hearing for October 24th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the NLRB office in Philadelphia.

Mr. Gatto told the newspaper the employer refused to pay their obligations under the IUPAT contract and their legal counsel has made contact with the Union attempting to settle the issue, which Mr. Gatto indicated isn’t likely.

REGION, July 28th- Members of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union Local 489, Brown Street in Yatesville, picketed in front of the new Wilkes University science building construction site recently because of the hiring of nonunion out-of-town construction workers for the project.

The project is valued at $35 million and the Union is disappointed the Wilkes-Barre located University hired a contractor from out of the area, which in turn employs workers from outside the region, stated Kevin McHugh, Business Manager of Local 489.

Iron Workers members place structural steel in place in building construction.

Mr. McHugh stated the contractor hired for the new science building is from the Lancaster area, and he questions why a local higher education institution would not insist that local workers be hired for a project. “Are guys could have really used the work,” said Mr. McHugh.

According to Drew Simpson, Representative for the International Brotherhood of Carpenters Union Local 645, one of the Union’s signatory contractors was hired for the project and his members will get work at the 72,500 square-foot science building. “We are good there,” stated Mr. Simpson.

John Gatto, Assistant Business Manager of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District 21 in Drums, told the newspaper his members have also been hired for both the painting and dry-walling portion of the project.

Mr. McHugh pointed-out that when out-of-town workers are hired for local building projects, those workers take the earnings made here back to their home regions to spend the money, which does nothing for the local economy.